Tennessee outlasts California in epic

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Tennessee players threw their gloves in the air as they converged near third base before falling to the ground with big smiles.

The exhaustive 24-16 victory yesterday over Petaluma, Calif., will be remembered back home for a while — and not just because it earned Goodlettsville's favorite sons a berth in the Little League World Series title game.

Brock Myers hit a tie-breaking double in Tennessee's nine-run seventh inning. Tennessee had its big inning after California scored 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it.

"I can't believe it," Tennessee Manager Joey Hale said. "I tell people this is like Christmas on steroids, and I'm having a blast."

Only California's 10-run comeback to send the game into extra innings tied at 15 could overshadow Tennessee slugger Lorenzo Butler's extraordinary day at the plate. Butler set a record with nine RBI and tied a record with three homers to lead Tennessee.

The California boys might have lost, but they had nothing to be ashamed about — especially not after the improbable rally.

The teams combined for 40 runs — another World Series record — in a game that lasted more than three hours.

Cole Tomei had a two-run double in the sixth, and Hance Smith's solo shot with two outs tied it at 15.

"The message will be you never gave up," said Hance's father, California Manager Eric Smith. "All we've asked of them all year was their best effort. I never saw them quit and I never saw them think they were out of it."

Luke Brown's strikeout to end the game set off a wild celebration on the field. Tennessee ended up near their dugout in front of third, giddy with exhaustion before they had to get up for the customary postgame handshakes.